Mother's Day 2007

by Jerry Bullock

Happy Mother’s Day! Mother’s Day brings out some strange inspiration for songwriters. I found one list that had 123 songs referring to mothers. Look at a few of the titles and you will see what I mean:

  • “Don’t Turn Out Like Your Mother,” The Proclaimers
  • “Cleanin’ Out My Closet.” Eminems
  • “Mama Said Knock You Out,” L. L. Cool
  • “Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” Willie Nelson
  • “Mamma Was An Opium Smoker,” Rasputina
  • “Your Mamma Don’t Dance,” Poison
  • “I’m A Mother,” The Pretenders
I am an optimist. I am trusting that these do not represent the mainstream opinion of motherhood. At least they do not represent the picture most of us have when we think about our mothers, nor do they fit in to the injunction God has given us to honor our fathers and mothers. For all of the songs like these it would be impossible to catalog all of the books of poems and lyrics that have praised the precious state of motherhood. Often the words are from unknown authors like these:

“As a child I would say, ‘Mommy I love you, Now you're my mother so dear. ?I love you even more with each and every new year.’”

“If I could give you diamonds for each tear you cried for me. If I could give you sapphires for each truth you’ve helped me see. If I could give you rubies for the heartache that you’ve known. If I could give you pearls for the wisdom that you’ve shown.”

“Her love is like an island in life's ocean, vast and wide, peaceful, quiet shelter from the wind, the rain, the tide.”

“A Mother has so many things to do,
From washing, ironing, cleaning to tying a shoe.
She scrubs, she mends, she cooks and sews.
She bathes the children and washes their clothes.
When they forget to wash their faces clean,
And their clothes are the muddiest you've ever seen.
Who repairs the clothes and scrubs them like new?
Of course, that is what a Mother will do.
Who becomes the doctor or the nurse when they are ill,
Applying a bandage or giving them a pill.
Who becomes a teacher when a child has homework?
She must never her duty shirk.
Who becomes a detective to find a toy or a book?
For missing things she must look and look?
Who becomes a listener to every heartache,
To every accomplishment that a child makes?
Who scolds their children when they are naughty,
Or reminds them of God when they are too haughty?
Who tends her family with love and patience, too?
Of course that is what a Mother will do.

. . . Author Unknown
All-in-all I would rather be with the unknown authors and remember fondly the years with my mother. Some, during the final years when time had taken her mind, were very difficult years but she was my mother and as hard as it was we made her a part of the family until the day she died. She has been gone now for several years and in due time I will join her because of what she taught me about life and faith, grace and salvation. I will be glad to see her when my time comes. I hope that you remember today to tell your mother you love her. I told mine and know she heard me.